WASHINGTON — Gov. Tim Pawlenty polled at just one percent support in a recent Iowa poll, but what would happen for Minnesota's presidential aspirant if one were to remove Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, whom many believe aren't seriously mulling runs?

Well, a Republican-leaning Iowa news website asked just that question and found Mitt Romney leading the revised pack with 26 percent support, followed by Newt Gingrich on 18 percent and Ron Paul on 7 percent. Pawlenty polled fourth with just 3 percent backing.

Good news for TPaw though — the site lists him and Ron Paul as candidates one shouldn't dismiss.

While many are quick to write off candidates like Ron Paul, who is at seven percent, Pawlenty at three percent, or the other candidates who barley register in the poll, it’s these candidates who people need to watch.

Ron Paul’s seven percent in the poll is nothing to sneeze at.  Like Romney, Paul would come into Iowa better prepared and with higher name ID than he did in 2008.  His ability to raise money turned heads in 2008, and if he can raise that kind of money early on for his campaign this time around, he will be a major factor in Iowa.

Tim Pawlenty shouldn’t be over-looked either.  The three percent in the poll indicates that he is moving the ball in the right direction and is making connections in Iowa.  Pawlenty also has the benefit of having some major players with Iowa roots backing his potential campaign.

Longtime political operatives Terry Nelson and Sara Taylor, two Iowa natives, are already on board with Pawlenty.  Those two are joined by Chuck Larson, Jr., a well-connected former Iowa GOP Chair, state legislator, and Ambassador.  Karen Slifka, a veteran of numerous presidential campaigns who has also served a stint with the RNC, is also on board with Pawlenty.

Full results and IR's writeup are here.